The average person would be terrified at the thought of sticking a sword down their throat.
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The fascinating trick is all in a day's work for Port Macquarie's Gordo Gamsby who has broken world records.
The circus performer has travelled all over the world and appeared on television shows such as Australia's Got Talent to demonstrate his skills.
During the live 2019 performance Mr Gamsby succeeded in breaking the world record for the most apples (25) held in his mouth and cut by chainsaw in one minute.
Mr Gamsby said the stunt is real and the chainsaw is only millimetres away from his skin.
And yet he doesn't shy away from putting himself face to face with danger, saying it's a calculated risk.
"There are safety measures in place," he said.
"There's a lot of training that goes into it."
Mr Gamsby has also broken a previous world record for the most sword swallowers to swallow the same object simultaneously.
He was one of four people to simultaneously swallow the four steel legs of a bar stool.
The record was broken in front of a live audience during a show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2007.
Mr Gamsby learnt how to swallow swords over a period of two years. It's an artform which was made famous by American sideshow performers in the 1920s.
"You have to isolate all the muscles down your oesophagus," he said.
His circus career hasn't been incident free.
When he was 16-years-old Mr Gamsby was in a fire breathing accident and burnt his face, nose, mouth and stomach.
He spent a week in intensive care at Port Macquarie.
Mr Gamsby grew up in Port Macquarie at Lake Innes and recently returned to town to embrace everything family life has to offer.
Mr Gamsby and his wife Lucy Frost have welcomed baby Spike into their world.
Spike has learnt some tricks of his own, including balancing with assistance from his dad.
Mr Gamsby connected with the circus industry at 16 when a company visited his Wauchope school.
He had the opportunity to travel to Tasmania to progress his skills after receiving a grant through the Mayor's Sporting and Cultural Fund.
Mr Gamsby said circus life has given him the opportunity travel and meet people from all different walks of life.
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